Vol. 4 No. 2 1997 CALHOUN and SLOTTEN: thus in Florida 51

HOLARCTIC , 4(2): 51-54 NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF SATYRIUM TITUS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA (LEPIDOPTERA: )

JOHN V. CALHOUN * AND JEFFREY R. SLOTTEN 1

977 Wicks Drive, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684; and 5421 NW 69th Lane, Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA

ABSTRACT.- Additional information on the ecology of Satyrium titus in Florida is provided, including habitat, hostplants, nectar sources, and flight period. Adult variation and the biogeography of the species in Florida are also briefly discussed.

KEY WORDS: Alabama, Asclepiadaceae, biogeography, distribution, ecology, Fagaceae, flight period, Georgia, habitat, Hemiptera, Hesperiidae, hostplants, immatures, larvae, Nearctic, nectar sources, North America, , Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, USA.

The coral hairstreak, Satyrium titus (Fabricius), is distributed vice of L. Neel, Jeffrey R. Slotten visited Shadeville on 18-19 over a large portion of southern Canada and the United States May 1991 and found two males and three females of S. titus. (Scott, 1986). It is generally considered uncommon throughout its verifying that a population persisted in the area. He returned to range (e.g., Ferris and Brown, 1980; Harris, 1972; Heitzman and Shadeville on 23 May 1992 and recorded one male and two Heitzman, 1987; Iftner et ai, 1992). The recognized southeastern females (voucher specimens in Slotten collection). Nonetheless, subspecies is S. t. mopsus (Hiibner). In the original description, due to the paucity of records and restricted range in Florida (Fig. Hiibner (1818) attributed S. t. mopsus to "Georgien in Florida," 1), S. titus was considered a "rare" species by the Florida prompting Grossbeck (1917) to include the subspecies on the first Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and (Deyrup list of Florida Lepidoptera. Kimball (1965) stated that Holland and Franz, 1994). Minno (1994) emphasized the need for more (1931) had also attributed S. titus to Florida on the authority of detailed ecological information on Florida populations. Hiibner, but Holland made no such reference. Nonetheless, Clark On 24 May 1997, another colony of S. titus was discovered by (1951) argued that such notations by Hiibner refer only to John V. Calhoun near Shadeville, providing a rare opportunity to Georgia ("Florida" in Hiibner's time included Georgia). Without observe the species in Florida and document additional informa- substantiation, Clench (1961) later inferred that 5. titus is tion on its ecology. Thirteen individuals (4 3, 9 9) were observed distributed over most of Florida when he defined its range as between 1 lOOh and 1430h. Most adults were seen between 1 lOOh "most of North America from southern Canada southward, except and 1230h under partly cloudy skies (skies were cloudy prior to southern Florida." Even the range map of S. titus in the popular 1030h) and temperatures of 27-29.5°C (80-85°F). guide by Mitchell and Zim (1962) included nearly all of Florida. Despite these references, Kimball (1965) failed to locate valid HABITAT Florida records of S. titus and did not retain it on his state list of Florida populations of S. titus have been found in association Lepidoptera. The status of S. titus in Florida remained uncertain. with temperate mixed hardwood forests (hammocks). Nearly all The presence of 5. titus in Florida was confirmed on 15 May adults of S. titus have been encountered as they visited flowers 1964 when Howard V. Weems collected a single male in along forest margins. The exceptionally diverse hardwood forests northwest Florida (the Florida Panhandle), at Torreya State Park, of Torreya State Park have been intensely studied and are known Liberty Co. This specimen (in FSCA) was apparently obtained to harbor a number of rare and endemic and spiders too late for inclusion in Kimball (1965). On 1 June 1969, Leon (Deyrup and Franz, 1994). The isolated tract of hardwood forest Neel captured two adults at Shadeville, in southern Wakulla Co. surrounding Shadeville in Wakulla County is clearly visible on (specimens in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pitts- the vegetation map by Davis (1967) (Fig. 1) and is best defined burgh, Pa) (L. Neel, pers. comm.)- Additional S. titus individuals as a mesic hardwood forest (Fig. 2). Overstory deciduous trees were subsequently found at Torreya State Park, including a record include hickories, Carya spp. (Juglandaceae), sweetgum, Liqui- by Stephen J. Roman in May, 1972, which was incorrectly dambar styraciflua L. (Hamamelidaceae), sassafras, Sassafras reported as a Florida state record by Mather (1973). On the ad- albidum (Nutt.) Nees (Lauraceae), , Quercus spp. (Fagaceae), 1. Research Associate, Florida State Collection of , DPI, FDACS, basswood, Tilia americana L. (Tiliaceae), and black cherry, Gainesville, Florida, 32614, USA. serotina Ehrh. (Rosaceae). Understory trees include flow- 52 CALHOUN and SLOTTEN: Sat\rium titus in Florida HOLARCTIC LEPIDOPTERA

include Poanes zabulon (Boisduval & Le Conte [1834]) (Hesperi- idae), Problema byssus (W. H. Edwards, 1880) (Hesperiidae), aesculapius (Fabricius, 1793) (Hesperiidae), and Basilarchia arthemis astyanax (Fabricius, 1775) (Nymphalidae). Although the origin of the name "Shadeville" 'is unknown (Morris, 1995), it probably refers to the lush deciduous forests that provided abundant and welcomed shade to the early inhabit- ants of the town. Unfortunately, this forest is being developed at a rapid pace. Nectar sources (and adjacent trees) where most 5. titus were encountered on 24 May 1997 had been removed by 28 June 1997 through residential construction.

Fig. 1. Known populations of Satyrium titus in Florida: 1. Torreya State Park, HOSTPLANTS Liberty Co.; 2. Shadeville, Wakulla Co. (dark areas on large map depict extent of Hostplants of S. titus are various species of tree Rosaceae, mixed hardwood forests in the Panhandle region) (adapted from Davis (1967). Inset map shows location of northwest Florida (panhandle) (solid black). including black cherry, P. serotina, American plum. Primus americana Marsh, and chickasaw plum, ering dogwood, Comus florlda L. (Cornaceae), eastern redbud, Marsh. (Scott, 1986). Prunus serotina is widely distributed Cercis canadensis L. (Leguminosae), and witch hazel, Hamamelis throughout much of northern and central Florida in wooded and virginiana L. (Hamamelidaceae). semi-wooded habitats and is a characteristic overstory tree of The Shadeville forest is located near Edward Ball Wakulla mesic hardwood forests in the panhandle (Clewell, 1981; Nelson, Springs State Park, one of the world's largest and deepest 1994; Wunderlin et al., 1995). Prunus americana and P. angusti- freshwater springs and the primary source of the Wakulla River. folia occur in forests and along forest edges and fencerows, Habitats within the 1158 ha (2860 acre) park include a forest type chiefly in northern Florida (Nelson, 1994, Wunderlin et al.. similar to that of Shadeville, characterized by Clewell (1981) as 1995). A single larva was found in April at Torreya State Park on a mesic hardwood hammock. Other species of Lepidoptera found P. angustifolia (given in error as southern crabapple, Malus by Calhoun in association with the hardwood forest at Shadeville angustifolia (Ait.) Michx. (Rosaceae) by Minno, 1994) (R. M.

Fig. 2-4. 2. Hardwood forest habitat of S. titus at Shadeville, Wakulla Co., Florida (1997). 3. Adult female S. titus taking nectar from A. tuberosa. 4. 5th instar larva of S. titus reared in 1993, resting on leaf of hostplant, P. angustifolia. Vol. 4 No. 2 1997 CALHOUN and SLOTTEN: Satyrium titus in Florida 53

Gillmore, pers. comm.). Slotten successfully reared larvae of S. basin and hardwood forests of the Florida panhandle were once titus (Fig. 4) on P. angustifolia from ova obtained by confining primarily restricted to riverine habitats (Clewell, 1981; Opler, two females acquired at Shadeville in 1992 in a small screened 1995). Although S. titus has not been reported from southern cage with cuttings of the hostplant. The ova overwintered and the Georgia or southern Alabama (Harris, 1972; Opler, 1995; I. L. larvae emerged the following spring. It is likely that S. titus Finkelstein, pers. comm.), it may actually be a widespread but utilizes more than one host in Florida. extremely localized resident throughout the region southward into northern Florida. Adults of S. titus are present only for several NECTAR SOURCES weeks each year, greatly increasing the probability that popula- Adults of S. titus are extremely rapid flyers, but are easily tions are overlooked. Moreover, they may inhabit tree crowns, approached, and even touched, when feeding. The adults collected descending only to feed. Populations of S. titus are perhaps most by L. Neel were feeding at the flowers of chinquapin, Castanea easily located by searching for the triangular shapes of adults pumila (L.) Mill. (Fagaceae) (L. Neel, pers. comm.). All the resting on the conspicuous orange flowers of A. tuberosa. The adults encountered by Slotten and three individuals (one male and species should continue to be searched for in northern Florida, two females) found by Calhoun were visiting -weed, especially in areas that support abundant stands of A. tuberosa L. (Asclepiadaceae) (Fig. 3), which is and C. americanus in proximity to mixed hardwood forests scattered throughout the area along forest margins. The brilliantly containing potential host plants. colored A. tuberosa is a highly attractive nectar source to 5. titus throughout its eastern range. The remaining adults encountered in ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1997 (except one perching female) were visiting New Jersey Tea, L. (Rhamnaceae) that grows along many We wish to thank Irving L. Finkelstein, Richard M. Gillmore, Leon of the sandy roads traversing the area (Fig. 2). Nearly twice as Neel and Marc C. Minno for helpful information. John B. Heppner many females than males were observed feeding by Calhoun and allowed access to the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, Slotten, suggesting that males may linger near the host plant Florida. and/or feed for shorter intervals. Two females collected in 1997 LITERATURE CITED exhibit severe damage to the outer margin of one hindwing. This damage was probably inflicted by a species of wheel bug (Arilus Calhoun, J. V. sp.) (Reduviidae) that was observed inhabiting numerous C. 1996. Possible relict populations of nycteis in the Florida americanus flower heads. Panhandle (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Holarctic Lepid. (Gainesville), 3:69-71. ADULT SIZE AND PHENOLOGY Clark, A. H. As noted by Minno (1984) adults of S. titus in Florida tend to 1951. Hiibner's "Florida". Lepid. News (Los Angeles), 4:62. be relatively large. A male collected at Shadeville in 1997 Clench, H. K. possesses a forewing length (base to apex) of 18mm and a female 1961. Tribe Theclini. In P. R. Ehrlich and A. H. Ehrlich (eds.), How measures 20mm. Measurements derived from populations outside to Know the , 177-220. Dubuque: W. C. Brown. Florida provided by Opler and Krizek (1984) do not exceed 262pp. 16mm for males and 18mm for females. However, throughout its Clewell, A. F. 1981. Natural Setting and Vegetation of the Florida Panhandle. range, adults are highly variable in size. A small female captured Contract No. DACW01-77-C0104. Mobile: U.S. Army Corps. at Shadeville in 1997 has a forewing length of only 15mm, which Eng. 773pp. is equal to the smallest female measured by Opler and Krizek 1985. Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle. (1984). Gainesville: Univ. Pr. Fla. 605pp. Extreme dates of capture for known records of 5. titus in Davis, J. H. Florida are 15 May and 1 June. Although adults can probably be 1967. General Map of Natural Vegetation of Florida. Gainesville: expected (on average) from about 10 May to 10 June, some Inst. Food Agric. Sci., Agric. Exp. Sta., Univ. Florida. (Circu- females may emerge later and still be present into late June or lar S-178). even early July. A 4-6 week flight period is generally consistent Deyrup, M., and R. Franz (eds.) throughout the species' eastern range (Opler and Krizek, 1984). 1994. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Vol. IV. Invertebrates. Gainesville: Univ. Pr. Fla. 798pp. Ferris, C. D. and F. M. Brown (eds.) DISCUSSION 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. Norman: Univ. Oklahoma Pr. 442pp. In Florida, S. titus may be limited to the Panhandle where Grossbeck, J. A. populations are far removed from those in Georgia and Alabama, 1917. Lepidoptera. In F. E. Watson (ed.), Insects of Florida. IV. Bull. representing possible relicts similar to those of Chlosyne nycteis Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. (New York), 37:1-147. (Doubleday and Hewitson) (Nymphalidae) (Calhoun, 1996). Harris, L., Jr. Alternatively, the species may be continuously distributed from 1972. Butterflies of Georgia. Norman: Univ. Oklahoma Pr. 326pp, 23 central Georgia into Florida, utilizing the forested Apalachicola- pi. Chattahoochee-Flint river system as a dispersal corridor (Calhoun, Heitzman, J. R., and J. E. Heitzman 1996). This scenario is more plausible, given that S. titus has 1987. Butterflies and Moths of Missouri. Jefferson City: Missouri been recorded in south-central Georgia only within the Flint river Dept. Conserv. 385pp. 54 CALHOUN and SLOTTEN: Satyrium titus in Florida HOLARCTIC LEPIDOPTERA

Holland, W. J. 1931. The Butterfly Book (rev. ed). Garden City: Doubleday. 424pp, 77 pi. Hiibner, J. 1818. Zutrdge zur Sammlung Exotischer Schmettlinge. Vol. 1. Augsburg. 40pp. Iftner, D. C., J. A. Shuey, and J. V. Calhoun 1992. Butterflies and skippers of Ohio. Ohio Biol. Sum. Bull. (Columbus), (n.s.)9:l-212. Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida, an Annotated Checklist. In Arthro- pods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas. Vol. 1. Gaines- ville: Div. Plant Indus., Fla. Dept. Agric. 363pp, 26 pi. Mather, B. 1973. 1972 season summary. Zone 6. Florida. News Lepid. Soc. (Los Angeles), 1973(2): 13-14. Minno, M. C. 1994. Coral Hairstreak, Harkenclenus titus mopsus (Hubner). In M. Deyrup and R. Franz (eds.), Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume IV. Invertebrates, 630-632. Gainesville: Univ. Pr. Fla. Mitchell, R. T., and H. S. Zim 1962. Butterflies and Moths, a Guide to the More Common American Species. New York: Golden Pr. 160pp. Morris, A. 1995. Florida Place Names. Sarasota: Pineapple Pr. 291pp. Opler, P. A. 1995. Lepidoptera of North America 2. Distribution of the Butterflies (Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the Eastern United States. Fort Collins: Contr. C. P. Gillette Mus. of Biodiversity, (unnumbered). Opler, P. A., and G. O. Krizek 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. Baltimore: J. Hopkins Univ. Pr. 294pp. Scott, J. A. 1986. Butterflies of North America, a Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Pr. 583pp. Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, and E. L. Bridges 1995. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants: On-line Version. Tampa: Univ. S. Florida. Inst. Syst. Botany Web Page (Version 28Feb97). http://www.usf.edu/~isb/projects/atlas/atlas.html.